7-month-old Huntsville girl in need of matching bone marrow donor in battle against rare blood disease

HUNTSVILLE, Ala — A 7-month-old Huntsville girl is in need of a matching bone marrow donor in her fight against a rare, life-threatening blood disease.

True Haden was diagnosed with congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopneia (CAMT) causing her to need a bone marrow transplant in order to survive.

The family has partnered with DKMS, a nonprofit organization that helps families in their fight against blood cancer and blood disorders, to help find a match.

Without a matching donor, doctors say True will not live past the age of three.

DKMS says that 7-% of people suffering from blood-related illnesses rely on donors outside of their families.

The organization said that True’s interracial background, a mix of African American, Indian, Puerto Rican and Caucasian, makes it more challenging to find a match as these ethnic groups are underrepresented in the donor pool.

Anyone in good health between ages 18 and 55 can register through DKMS’ website to be sent an at-home cheek swab and see if you are a match.